Dalelands

Extinguishing the fire sadly does not turn off the flame barrier in the hallway. So the group decide to deal with the drow witch first who has encourage the matron into taking over these cellars.

The witch declares her plans for the surface world. She has happened on the prison of the Bringer of Famine and plans to unleash him on the unsuspecting surface dwellers. She conjures up a flame wall which holds back the attackers and motions her two tiefling skeletons to attack.

Meanwhile a tiefling cleric in the background conducts a nefarious ritual over a portal which is filled by flames. Something seems to moving in the infernal fires…

Also she casts a hex on Nimue which will damage her everytime someone hurts one of her allies. Which is very painful since the adventurers don't really show any signs of holding back either.

The skeletons use cursed blades which wrest part of their victims' life force away to empower the tiefling cleric and the drow mage.

After her skeletons are overwhelmed, the witch moves the wall of fire backwards to protect her cleric's ritual. Kerrick's shots through the flames hit their mark however and hurt her badly. Nimue teleports through the flames after using them to damage herself.

The mage breaks her staff and tosses it through the wall which results in a major explosion which the group mostly survives intact. Without her staff the mage soon dies and the cleric follows her in death soon after.

Nimue holds the unholy rod into the flames in the portal and the magical energies lessen being drawn into the rod which forms a burning scepter which can be used as a sorcerer's implement.

The ritual scrolls detail the progress in unsealing Balam: apparently four of the five seals holding him have been broken. The cult seems to have had connections to the faith of Chauntea as well though it doesn't reveal much.

The drow seem to be all about restoring a position of power after getting kicked out of their city due to their Lolth worship when the city switched allegiance to the Raven Queen. Apparently Mort Morden has his hands in this as well as he has provided the Matron with a magical dagger and a black book which might help her control a freed Balam. Suddenly, a piece a metal detaches from one of the alcoves and flies towards the statuette the group found before: it is a sickle which somehow magically welds to the one of its hands!

The adventurers extinguish the magical fire behind the portal and prepare to visit the matron's chambers.

Zelnaryn the drow leads the group down into a big cellar hall. A drow priestess works a spell on a fireplace to cut off a corridor behind the hall with a wall of fire. Two many armed skeletons with scimitars are guarding the opposite end of the big room. In the middle an orb lies on a pedestal which glows with a malevolent purplish hue. A magical fire burns on the pedestal on the left side.

Entering the hall, the drow accompanying the adventures is hit by a purplish beam from the orb and collapses to the floor. More undeads come from the alcoves where the remains of long dead humanoids have been stored. The unholy glow in their eyes matches the orb's miasma indicating that the effect may be tied to the orb.

After brawling with the skeletons the orb takes another shot at Shiel, dropping him into a near death state. The skeletons keep the adventurers busy and new ones keep reforming in the corners of the hall. Thana's blade barrier destroys man of the mindless undead however.

The group try to use a crowbar to lift the orb out of the pedestal's mound but it refuses to budge. After several tries it crashes to the floor. That and the continued exposure to the blade barries seems to have damaged it beyond repair! The swirling energies it emits even tear through the blade barrier and absorb it. Shiel tries to roll the orb towards the last remaining skeleton. Is the distance to the impending doom enough?

A huge explosion shakes the room, but the adventurers escape mostly unscathed. Nimue finally uses the infernal rod she's found to douse the magical flame. The rod sucks in the flame's magical energy. It appears to be dedicated to Mammon, the archdevil of greed. Whatever could go wrong with giving even more power to an archdevil? There will be no repercussions for that obviously….

The graves seem very old and include the bones of tieflings as well. Thana grabs one of the old shields with a logo to have it identified later on. She also finds an infernal relic, a depiction of an ancient devil with a scythe. It may be an ancient adversary of Chauntea related to poverty and decay, Balaam, probably a servant of Mammon.

One of Kerrick's new acquaintances, a fire genasi, takes the party through side alleys into a shady tavern which seems to double as a brothel. This chapter's name is the 'Scarlet Veil'.

They seem to be mostly bitter about the Dons' ever increasing share of their profits, especially Multimer seems to have raised his cut significantly lately. He has also disposed of several of the other Dons extending his influence with his allies, the drow. Also they agree to listen to each of the adventurers separately.

Kerrick is asked about the kenkus' goals in the city and if the rumors are true that the kenkus are in league with demons. While Kerrick does not really deny it, he is proposed a share in the city's criminal underground, he'll have to pay a share of his earnings to the Scarlet Veil after the Dons are dealt with. Kerrick signs a magical treaty with the matron.

Nimue refuses to sign any treaties, yet the matron is very interested in her backstory. Nimue's assurance that she's only looking after the interests of the Mantle King and that she is searching for a sage in Harrowdale.

Thana is surprised that the matron knows about her background. Their discussion mostly circles around Kerrick. The matron remarks that Kerrick certainly is a valuable ally. Also she has bad news for Thana. Apparently the drow have their headquarters below the abandoned temple of Chauntea which she is planning to visit. A sizable contingent of the drows has been sent out to support Multimer who boasts a lot of resources and is most probably in the employ of the fake Mantle King. She refuses to act openly against the drow however. The matron suspects the drows to be outcasts since they've strayed from the Underdark for quite a while now.

Shiel agrees with the matron that taking care of the drows has the utmost priority, both to deprive Multimer of his allies and to free Chauntea's temple.

The matron's henchmen sneak the adventurers through Multimer's guards so they arrive at the temple unscathed. They use a passwall ritual to enter the temple through a side wall. Inside, the statue of Chauntea seems to have been toppled and replaced by twin statues of Lolth and Malar.

A drow priestess seems to be torturing some human prisoners, maybe some of Talos's lost soldiers. Several drow henchmen with crossbows are standing on the upper walkway. Shiel charges and pierces the drow priestess with his sword….who mocks him that the 'real Mantle King would like to make his acquaintance', then transforms into gibbering puddle of slime with a piercing central eye: a yochlol, one of Lolth's handmaidens, also a demon.

The drow guards quickly fall to Nimue's and Kerrick's attacks. Then the adventurers focus on the yochlol and surround it. The yochlol forms pseudopods and whips the group around it. Even covering everyone around it poisonous slime doesn't help as it is hacked apart.

A drow woman who declares herself secondborn of House Ulvrain from Shindelryn. She has a claw in place of one of her hands which supposedly has been hacked off at the order of her sister. She declares that she has weakened the guards to help them assist her in killing her elder sister and offers them access to the lower chambers where the drow are busy trying to break a ward spell.

Kerrick tries to find a fence known to him, Dumik the Red. He is usually working for the Dons but not above dealing with other customers. Dumik has overseen Kerrick's 'education' and training. He does have bad new for Kerrick: Most of the people he sent to Ashabenfurt have been captured by the Dons and disposed of. Multimer, one of the chiefs, even has put a bounty on Kerrick's head!

Kerrick tells Dumik about Mort Morden and their plans to get rid of the Dons. Dumik tells him that Multimer has forbidden anyone in Ashabenfurt from visiting the Golden Ear of Corn, an abandoned temple of Chauntea since 'strange things are happening there'.

When Kerrick sneaks back out to gather more information he's set upon by several of his fellow thieves from the city. While they also share a dislike of the Dons, they still insist on him being their 'guest'. He tells them of his companions. The thieves want to keep him hostage until they can verify his words.

At the camp, his allies worry about his whereabouts. Nimue is decently sure that his disappearance isn't related to the Dons and she tells the others so, but refuses to lay bare his dealings with Pazuzu which doesn't exactly engender trust in the others. Talos tells him that a leader of the Dons is in town. At the east border of the town the group finds a tree with several kenku corpses hanging from it. Thana's inspection reveals that they seem to be dead for about two days. One of the kenkus even seems to have been plucked. They are all wearing an amulet with a dried raven's foot, not unlike the cursed on Kerrick found on the cemetary in Shadowdale. From below it appears that one of the corpses has a crossbow bolt embedded in its flesh. So Shiel climbs the tree but only manages to tumble down ripping the corpse down. A closer investigation appears that the corpse bears a tattoo much in the same design as the amulet.

People in town have taken notice of those efforts, including Kerrick's captors which release him. But apparently also unfriendly eyes and people are following the adventurers.

A detachment of ruffians corners the adventurers and identify themselves as agents of the Dons. They 'invite' the Mantle King and his entourage to dinner. They tell them that the dead kenkus were representatives of a northern guild which is rumored to be allied with demons so they made short work of them before they could spread any corruption.

Before the exchange goes any further Nimue hurls a lightning bolt at the speaker…which passes through him. Kerrick runs in disguised as warrior woman to rejoin the group.

The opposing warlock has weird rod with little horns, two riders and a few rogues on his side. Even though he teleports around with in bursts of hellfire and steals the abilities of his opponents, his infernal powers prove no match for the heroes. Talos displays his raw physical powers by cleaving a man on his horse in twain.

Kerrick's new acquaintances quickly squirrel the adventurers away before reinforcements can arrive.

A griffon rider of the inquisitors wants to fly off to the Order of the Sword to report what happened at the trial. The group decides to follow since Thana still needs to acquire a piece of her relic which is supposedly held there.

Also close to the Order's headquarters is another location of notice: The old mansion of the previous Mantle King Aencars which lived there 250 years ago. The mansion has since fallen into disrepair and also is rumored to be cursed. The promise of untold riches hidden somewhere have prompted adventurers to risk their lives for a long time however.

Since the group all own flying mounts, they accompany the knight. He intends to take a stop near Ashabenfurt but the group decides to push onwards. No light is seen from Ashabenfurt which sounds strange. The knight isn't willing to bring himself into any danger since he has to deliver an important message about the death of the inquisitor after all!

Kerrick flies over the general area of Ashabenfurt's gate. He notices a heap of corpses which seem to have been guardsmen close to the gate.

Suddenly another figure topples out a window in the guardtower. Kerrick notices the figure of a dark elf darting through the shadows.

After the group lands, a melee starts with the drow using poisoned weapons. Kerrick meanwhile shoots a ballista bolt from the tower and one of the drows.

The drows are competent fighters and decently dangerous, but they don't stand a chance against the coordinated attacks of the adventurers. Suddenly, another body hits the pavement. After healing the grievous wounds of the civilian, the group rushes upstairs.

Upstairs, a man in a golden armor is fighting a drow. The drow is quickly dispatched by Kerrick. The man in the golden armor introduces himself as Talos, which is the name of the dead god of storms, a usually malevolent deity. He explains that the paladins of the Order often take the names but don't always follow the outlook of their namesakes. He is in town since he's heard that the fake Mantle King has allied with the Dons. But apparently he's also allied with the drow who have dispatched most of the knights from the Order. Regarding how Helm is apparently trying to regain his godhood, Talos might be another example of gods reviving all other the land.

He allows the group access to their supplies which contains a few select magic items. Thana tries to heal and raise a few of the slain soldiers. Thana voices her interest in joining the Order of the Sword. Talos guesses that she's after the job of the inquisitor. He advises her that she'd need to choose the name of one of the old slain gods of the pantheon.

Kerrick is still pondering how to substitute some poor victim for Sashesh in the upcoming execution. So he turns to Pazuzu for aid. A little gift of his blood has to suffice as an offering. Pazuzu is out for blood apparently, as he suggests replacing the witch with a demon and burning down the inquisition members once and for all.

All Kerrick has to do is bring the cleric to the summoning circle in the cellar. Thana meanwhile inhales some holy incense smoke to get in touch with her goddess. Thana complains about the unfairness of the trial to Chauntea. Suddenly a figure clothed in white appears and introduces himself as Helm, the all-seeing god of justice. Even though Helm the god is dead, he seems to be working on reclaiming his godhood. At the moment he is the most elated paladin of the Order of the Sword. He seems very interested in Thana having such an intimate relationship with her goddess.

Helm also warns that evil forces are on the verge of freeing the dark cleric. He also advises Thana that there's always a third way in regards to a fair judgment. She is provided the use of old scriptures of law to find a solution for her dilemma. She also reads that hardliner parts of the inquisition even keep watch on Chauntea as one of the questionable faiths since it's pretty current.

Meanwhile Jhaele warns Shiel that her supporters have found a dead guardsman and that someone is trying to free Sashesh. Shiel intends to speak to Scott Harikon and ask for more guardsman, he also asks Jhaele to provide more of her men for the job.

Thana contacts Sashesh from her dream to offer her her life in exchange for abdicating her dark faith and switching to the worship of Helm which would deprive her of most of her power but at least alive. Sashesh's other option is being burned at the stake at the moment, so she is about to agree…

…just when Mort Morden and Kerrick intrude to free her. Mort has killed a guardsman and is trying to cause confusion by summoning another blood well which he describes as a portal to the realm of Bhaal.

Thana notices Sashesh fading from her dream and notified Shiel who runs over to the prison with Scott Harikon and his men. He also takes Nimue along. Thana's attempt to contact [[:kerric

Kerrick poses as Munroe but is recognized by Nimue who tells some of the guardsmen to help her deal with the blood well. Shiel has an inspiration and decides to check out the old brothel, Sister Tara's old hideout. His sword seems to point him this way.

Kerrick offers his second favor which he can get from Pazuzu to create a doppleganger demon looking like Sashesh in the circle while he and Mort flee through a secret door with the unconscious Sashesh slung over Mort's shoulder. Unluckily the secret door does not close completely so some of the soldiers are still hot in pursuit.

Nimue's research of the magical circle doesn't yield much information, she thinks someone may have intended to sacrifice Sashesh in exchange for dark powers.

On the next day, the inquisition has started the trial. Alosios is frothing at the mouth as he recounts Sashesh many misdeeds, most of them true. When he sentences her to die by fire, Shiel asks her if she doesn't want to say anything for herself. Sashesh spits in front of his feet.

So the burning commences. Suddenly a booming laughing voice declares the inquisitors to be fools and that Shadowdale will burn! Sashesh is consumed by the flames and turns into a giant burning demonic figure!

She roasts the head inqusitor with a beam of fire! Thana takes a swig of her potion of divinity even though people have warned her that she may be drawing power from Chauntea forcefully.

The people run away screaming as it begins incinerating the immediate area. Kerrick tries to assassinate Haresk Mallorn in the confusion but the panicking people disrupt his crossbow shots.

Thana sees through the creature that it is basically just feeding on Sashesh while it burns and will run wild until Sashesh's life has burned away to nothingness. Most of the villagers have fled. The giant monstrosity seems to be mostly impervious to damage.

Nimue tries to reach the ritual circle to find a way to suppress the demon while Shiel tries to contain the damage by keeping it in the middle of the village.

The ritual disruption seems to be a success and the holy powers of the paladins' weapons seem to affect the fire elemental. Thana's repeated dips into Chauntea's power finally give her enough divine force to melt down the remains of the fire elemental. Sashesh, not surprisingly, has burnt to a crisp meanwhile.

The remaining members of the Order's inquisition invite Thana to accompany them to their headquarters since they're awed by her display of divine power.

After the victory Baim sets about reclaiming his father's mines which will involve draining the lower levels of water. He also swears fealty to the Mantle King and also promises generous prices for the dwarven weapons once the forges are lit again.

Back in Daggerfall Nimue tells Lyra about Umberlee's death and that she thinks that the potion of Divinity steals divine energy from the gods. Also she warns that the Wild Hunt is probably out there hunting for the parties responsible.

Thana learns that the inquisition of the Order of the Sword has come to Shadowdale about to hold a witch trial against the former arch chancellor's wife, the cleric of Bane. They've managed to close to demonic gate below Shadowdale and are now out for the blood of people allying with dark forces.

Kerrick in the meantime meets up with Mord Morden to check up on the halfling's progress in getting rid of his opponents. He hands Kerrick the bone dagger and asks him to get rid of Kesla which he has captured saying that, "he will deal only with other murderers". Kerrick obliges him and offs Kesla with his own obsidian dagger. Mord Morden tells Kerrick that his business is concluded here and that he'll go to Ashabenfurt next since he has a contract to kill off the Dons. Apparently there'll be some vacancies for entrepreneurs to move in once the deed is done. Kerrick tries to leave the current business in Tara's hands. Before she can demand some signs a deeper…commitment Kerrick hurriedly departs.

Shiel confers with Rondra who suggests to visit Shadowdale to form a tighter bond with the local rebels led by Jhaerle. Apparently the inquisitors have been busy and are preparing the burning of Shashesh, cleric of Bane for betrayal of the Dalelands and abetting the Zhentarim. The son of the arch chancellor and the chancellor himself have apparently been cleared of guilt. Ilthond's magic portal connects to the Tower of Ashaba thus the party gets there in time for the trial.

The guards at the church want to deny the adventurers the entry to the court room but Shiel rebukes them so they are let inside. One of the order who introduces himself as a priest of Helm. He staggers back after verifying Thana's divine connection. After annoying the Inquisitor Alosius Shiel is asked to sit down on the front bench. Lhaeo brings the proof of Shashesh's guilt from the arch chancellor's treasury which the group previously uncovered.

Mord in the back of the court room appears in a vision to Kerrick and asks him to get the arch chancellor to pay for Shashesh's crimes instead. A dark cleric on their side might prove a useful asset. Kerrick approaches Jambal Icehyll who Mord has revealed to take a coin or two on the side to look the other way. Jambal doesn't seem disinclined to receive a little bonus on his pay either.

Outside, Nimue is talking to Scott Harikon about the inquisition. It usually is independant, but Harikon warns that it has a political agenda. The inquisitor presiding over the tribunal seems to be a friend of the arch chancellor as well.

Thana asks for a halt of the trial since she hasn't had the time necessary to sift through all the documents provided to her. Alosius is not amused but has no choice to reschedule to the next day.

The adventurers confer with Targen Mallorn, the son of the chancellor who describes his father as a naive man easily tempted by womanly wiles and riches. In the documents Thana finds a clue that links Sashesh to the Triskelian group which means some of the missing refugees may have ended up as slaves.

Kerrick receives the intel he wanted from Jambal Icehyll. It consists of a chapter book of the Treskeden merchant coster which shows that Haresk Mallorn definitely once led the business himself.

Thana visits Sashesh in her cell trying to get some proof about Haresk's involvement. Sashesh claims wanting revenge on the Treskeden for betraying her. Also the inquisitor is supposed to be in the organisation's pocket which may explain Haresk's sudden not guilty verdict. Sashesh offers Thana the location of the leader of a different coster in exchange for her life. That coster is supposed to have been erased by Treskeden, but their leader is in the hands of the Dons.

The inspection of Nimue's corpse reveals that she doesn't only have deep wounds at the back. Her heart is missing as well, according to Thana's research she has been (un)dead for a long time. This is probably the result of the high priest's ritual which he has performed. Mourim confirms the evil ceremonies usually include hearts being forcibly removed from their host bodies.

In the feywild a lightning bolt hits the ground. Nimue steps outside, scaring a poor Satyr who had been playing on his pipes. Several weird winged beings fly around. One masked man with two hellhounds introduces himself as the "Master of the Hunt". He tells her that a Wild Hunt has been declared. The feywild is preparing to fight back against the hordes of the Devourer. To join the hunt as an heir to the storm, Nimue has to choose a mount to ride into battle now that an arch fey has been slain.

Back with the party Baim celebrates the retaking of his father's mines. His exultation is short-lived however as hordes of demons swarm into the caves. The adventurers have to flee.

Finally they make it outside of a side entrance to the mines. Sadly a horde of hellspawn is waiting for them. Suddenly overhead Nimue's wild horde arrive and begin engaging the demons. Eladrin riders join giant eagles in their assault.

Finally a huge demon which the party has been fleeing from bursts out of the mine entrance. He has the body of a sea serpant but with scaly arms which end in a mass of horrid tentancles. The demon recognizes Kerrick's dealings with Pazuzu. Pazuzu also designates him as a target which has to be eliminated as soon as possible.

Chaos erupts as the heroes, the forces of feywild, Baim's dwarf platoon and the demons join the frey. The big pisco demon controls the minds of the fighters around them causing them to hit their allies in confusion.

The wild horde wreaks havoc on the demons, and the pisco demons are heavily pressured by the adventurers and their dwarf allies. Eventually the big pisco demon collapses after taking many wounds and the allied forces are victories.

The Master of the Hunt introduces himself as Oran and tells them that Umberlee is dead. When Shiel asks how Nimue's return is possible (with her previous corpse still around) Oran suggests that the heroes visit Nimue's father, the wise man of Scardale the group has heard about. His name is Laurish Samprey.

The wild hunt is off searching for demons after providing winged mounts for the adventurers. The party decides to burn Nimue's previous body in fear that some evil force may possess it sooner or later.

Apparently the lower levels of the mines have been flooded so going any deeper seems impossible at the moment. So the group focuses their attention back on the high priest of the Devourer. Museo offers the group to take them to the audience chamber. When asked about the high priest's victims she tells them that none of the sea elves are really prisoners. Only traitors are supposed to be sacrificed. Mord Morden usually takes care of that.

Museo offers the group a potion to breathe underwater. Sadly it's of Sahaguin making it taste horrible. Also it affects Nimue like poison for some reason so the group has to drag her along while swimming below the surface. Museo guesses that's because it took the Devourer's help to make it.

Finally, the adventurers reach a hall underwater which is filled with an air bubble. Sadly the high priest isn't there, but Mord Morden certainly is. A greenish portal towers over a throne on which he awaits the arrival of the adventurers. Two assassins flank the door and some sea elves stand guard on the sides. A ritual circle glows ominously in the middle of the room.

Mord is curious about the high priest's reason for wanting Nimue dead. Also he admits having been paid by Aumersair, the fake mantle king, and mocks the heroes to fall into his trap that easily. Aumersair, as Thana knows, was the name of a famous noble family which had governed Scardale long ago.

Nimue drinks from a potion of divinity after entering a ritual circle which Mord may have wanted to use against the group. Her body shifts into a dark fey version which takes Mord aback. Kerrick displays the bone dagger which he has pilfered. He tries to arouse Mord's suspicions against Aumersair that he obviously harbors. Meanwhile, Nimue sabotages the portal destroying it and one of the blood wells at the side.

Lesser demons appear from the blood. In the place of the portal a shadowy image of the high priest appears threatening Nimue. Apparently he's a bit miffed about the loss the portal. Sadly he proves to be more than a ghost who can also attack people with his spectral harpoon. He also summons a demon in the summoning circle which Shiel engages.

He viciously mauls Shiel assisted by his lesser demons. Kerrick tries to convince/coerce the watching sea elves into switching allegiance to the group. The one which he convinces is summarily backstabbed by one of the assassins however.

Shiel uses his psionic powers to warp time around him in an effort to keep the demons close to him as attacking allies will be painful. Nimue hits the shadowy high priest with one of her mighties thunder spells and drives him into the remaining blood fountain destroying it.

The demon and assassins prove no match for the rest of the group which relies on Thana's powerful wards to stave off most of the dangerous wounds. Nimue reverts to her "normal" state, the wings have disappeared and left horrible wounds.

Will even Thana's healing powers be able to restore a semblance of (un)life to her? The potion of divinity certainly has wrought some weird changes on her.

The chool leads the adventurers deeper into the mine. When they reach a bigger cavern, one of the dwarves starts babbling about hearing voices. A familiar stretch of rotten flesh crosses the otherwise rocky floor. At the other end of the cavern lies a broken down mining cart next to a large human head which might be the remnant of a statue. In the mining cart lies a greenish glowing gem. Suddenly a mass of putrid flesh detaches from the floor. It is a horrible abomination with lots of eyes and mouths which babble incoherently and long tongues protuding from them – a gibbering mouther!

Also it seems to be accompagnied by several mishappen dwarves! Baim's fighters which are with the group recognize them as hated enemies – derro!

The gibbering mouther entangles Thana with his appendages and tongues and lets out some screeches which people hear as cries of a baby for her mother. The derro try to pepper the adventurers with crossbow bolts but don't really cause much harm while Kerrick decimates their ranks.

The gibbering mouther emits a warping zone of chaos which causes the terrain to blur and shift making getting close to it difficult. Museo helps out the group with weird but inspiring songs.

The greenish stone psionically assaults the attackers' minds trying to get them to move onto the floor of flesh. A few of Baim's dwarves stumble in this dangerous area but don't sink in. Nimue and Kerrick manage to assault the mouther which shrieks angrily. The warping effect intensifies encompassing the whole cavern!

The derros are enraged about the adventurers attack "the baby" and intensify their attacks.

During the fight, green dwarven shaped ghosts materialize from the green gem, their spectral voices begging the heroes for help! One of the derros keeps trying to push Shiel into the rotting flesh but he stubbornly keeps on solid ground and a bizarre struggle ensues.

Finally the derro fighter and the gibbering mouther are slain. The remaining derros scream bloody murder and keep fighting. Apparently it's hopeless to try to calm them down so the battle continues.

After the remaining derros have perished, the group turns towards the pleading dwarves. Shiel summons Hedistrin and asks her advice about how to free the dwarves. Hedistrin tells them that the stone is indestructable to weapon and magic and that it has been touched by the far realms. Apparently the dwarves were influenced by it into killing each other in a fit of madness. For now, Kerrick puts the stone into a bag of holding and the group decides to find a sage for advice how to remove its curse.

Manic Miners

Kerrick tries to get in contact with Kesla, the master forger from the Treskeden merchant coster. Information is spare and the "middlemen" demand quite a sum of money. Thana knows of a rival company which deals mostly in natural products which may yet be of help.

The plans to decorate the temple of Chauntea with the goddesses representing all four seasons seems to take form. Rondra seems to be attracted to posing for the goddess of justice position, just the amount of armor is a point of discussion.

The little dragon hatchling is meanwhile running around in the church playing with the local kids.

Kerrick meanwhile visits the Treskeden merchants trying to get some information about the sea elf hearts sent to Nimue. He finds the corpse of a henchmen which he sent, and several of his thieves guild which had accompagnied him seem to have been slain as well. The proprietor reveals that she is a servant of Bhaal by showing him an obsidian amulet adorned with a golden skull.

She offers Kerrick a bone dagger and asks him to kill Mord Morden, the assassin which had tried to kill Nimue in the Tower of Dreams in exchange for the information.

Apparently the treacherous halfling has been holing up close to the Dwarvish mines.

Meanwhile Lyra, Thana, Rondra and Nimue are conducting a ritual in the temple. The dragon gets another helping of Thana's magic juice and even starts learning a few words in common.

Now it's back to freeing the mines. Shiel wants to draw on Baim's knowledge of the layout since his family has ruled the caverns before. Most of the tunnels have been sealed off however by the fleeing dwarves.

Baim is also desperate to secure his rule for which he needs the acknowledgement of other dwarven clans. Working together with the Mantle King in freeing the mines could boost his chances of reclaiming his father's legacy.

The dwarves seem to be more of a cowardly bunch. They are proficient in clearing the mine entrance of rubble however. An odor of rot and decay assaults the adventurers' nostrils.

One of the dwarves is suddenly gone. Nimue spots the lantern of the dwarf down the tunnel and follows the light. When the group tries to follow her, they happen on a dead end. No trace of Nimue however. After hitting the wall it gives way into well-known tunnels of rotting flesh. Yuck!

Nimue is meanwhile stuck in a room with Museo, Mourim's previous girlfriend who reproaches her that it is her fault that many of the sea elves have had to die. Nimue tells her that it is sometimes time to force a change instead of accepting the Devourer as their master.

Museo is decently impressed by Nimue's vigor. She seems to be interested to see if Nimue can really defy the high priest and eventually the Devourer himself. She also tells the group that the shifting tunnels may not be the work of the abyssal forces at all but some maniacal corrupted dwarves which had been mentioned by Baim himself. She summons a Chool with her magic seashell, a lobster like creature. It should be immune to the chaotic forces since it is a creature of chaos itself.

Fight chaos with chaos to bring about a happy ending…..seems plausable. The adventurers carry on.

Thana names her dragon hatchling 'Ariketh' (my gemstone in draconic). Kerrick is still disguised in his red mage illusion. The room is full of red lizardmen which have cornered their green brethren. Kerrick quickly stabs one of the unsuspecting monsters from behind and fires his crossbow at a red abishai, their leader.

The abishai also fires rays of flames from his trident to severely burn Kerrick as revenge. Some fire snakes are also snapping at the adventurers which are just entering the hall.

He also stands close to a portal which is filled with flames through which reinforcements keep arriving.

Some of the weaker lizardfolk are easily dispatched by the melee fighters and Nimue hurts the abishai and a salamander which has come through the portal with a burst of lightning which also leaves her vulnerable to several counter attacks.

The lizardfolk use their resistance to fire freely blanketting the room with flame attacks. Thana's holy shield catches a of lot of the backblast however keeping the fight going.

Kerrick assassinates the abishi which explodes in a last burst of flame, but the creature's death also makes the portal collapse.

More of the lizardmen and snakes die and the salamander finally is finally killed by the cleric.

Only Vortrax, a doubleheaded green lizardman remains. He would like to leave the castle with as many treasures as possible which he feels entitled to since Venomina promised them to him.

Sadly his former mistress is in no position to honor that bargain. So Shiel tries to convince him to aid the group in coming battles in exchange for free passage and the heap of treasure which the green lizardmen had amassed. Vortrax agrees and enchants the ring so it'll call him if worn.

He reminds Shiel that he'll only provide help one time only and leaves with his folks which he had called previously with a flute. He'll be a powerful ally since Nimue has detected a strong magical power in Vortrax and judged him as very dangerous.

When everyone turns to celebrating, Mourim bursts in and collapses to the floor. Apparently he's been gravely injured. Museo, his girlfriend, came to him sent by the highpriest. The message of the high priest is a bag of sea elf hearts. Apparently he needs Nimue to conduct a sinister ritual, the alternative would be the lives of the rest of Nimue's tribe.

Thana examines the hearts and decides that they must have been carved from their hosts while still beating, and all within the last ten days. The bag has the logo of a trading company which is also a covert Thayan spy group as Ilthond interjects. Apparently they are also doing trade with the Underdark.

Ilthond when asked offers to give the adventurers a name of a contact person in Daggerdale which works for Thayans, a bard named Kesla. Kerrick knows she has done trade with the Zhentarim and is also smuggling goods for other thief guilds. He sends out henchmen from his thieves guild to track her down.

More dwarven allies pour through the portal. They seem to be more distracted by the remaining treasures in Rondra's castle than being any real help. Through the kobold hole Kerrick hears screams of pain and a crude laughter of some sadistic torturer.

After squeezing through the hole into a cave, the group notices some fire newts and a kobold torturing a green dragon hatchling. A red mage yells at them to finish slaughtering the newborn.

The group charge into the cave with Kerrick badly injuring the mage with his crossbow. The kobold ignites his magical whip and throws a fireball into the advancing group.

The newts have razor sharp teeth and also spit embers at the adventurers who are soon covered in flames! The mage quickly dies after the rogue vaults past the defending newts. The kobold and the fire lizards pose more of a threat however.

Thana not only has to keep the group alive but also finds time to heal up the bruised dragon hatchling a bit which is cowering in a corner.

The remaining newts and the kobold finally collapse to the melee fighters and Nimue's lightning spells.

Thana tries to communicate with the dragon wyrmling who tells her in draconic that he/she(?) is named "Shame" by her mother(?). The cleric tries to get her to try to fly and notices that the dragon seems to be a bit retarded. She let's the dragon drink from her potion of divinity. Whatever can go wrong. At least the adventurers now know the dragon is male.

He also hungrily devours the corpses of the fallen monsters. He's also able to vomit a cloud of chlorine. Apparently the big green dragon has treated him badly, only the green kobolds have been taking care of him. That doesn't stop him from devouring their corpses however.

The group sneaks through a kitchen. A corridor to the left leads towards fighting noise. Troglodytes are facing down red lizardmen fighting over the treasures of the castle. Behind the throne in the throne room the troglodytes have amassed a heap of treasure which the red lizards are trying to take from them.

Kerrick, posing as the red mage with his illusion ability, tells "his" red henchmen to leave just one alive for questioning. A red winged lizardman looks angrily at him, he's probably not used at taking orders from the mage. The red lizardmen don't seem to be entirely natural as magma seems to flow from their eyes. Kerrick as the mage excuses himself that he has to go back to take care of Venomina's spawn. The lizardmen resume quarreling.

In the other direction a fire seems to have broken out. But the group seems to be more focussed on the treasure…..

The group use the magical portal to get into Daggerfall castle. There, they happen on a group of greedy cultists led by a salamander. The salamander, an evil elemental being, has some sort of fire belching dragon dog and a few cultists accompanying him.

The fire belcher blows bubbling magma into the back lines of the group causing a lot of damage. Meanwhile the berserkers of the Dragon Cult charge into the melee fighters to prevent them from getting at their Salamander boss.

The salamander summons a lot of minor fire creatures to slow down the party's advance, but they are quickly dispatched by Nimue's lightning spells. The salamander encases Kerrick in a fiery cage to keep him at bay and further sear him.

The cage does not prevent Kerrick from shooting it with his trusty crossbow however. The cage vanishes and the forces of the Dragon Cult are falling back.

After their defeat the group sees from above that a group of green lizardmen are preparing a ship below to flee with some of their loot and families. Above, red lizardmen are killing off some of their green brethren. Also the red lizardmen seem to be ready to torch Rondra Morn's castle.

Finally, they discover a kobold hole leading downwards into a labyrinth of dark tunnels. What to go for?

Kerrick visits the city alone and meets Tara who seems to be a bit annoyed that Kerrick is aiming to be the newest favorite of Pazuzu. She asks him whether he is truly committed and asks him to confirm his devotion by sealing a formal deal with the demon.

Kerrick has to pierce his hand on a thorn and write the contract himself detailing what he wants from Pazuzu. He wants to be leader of the Cult of Pazuzu in the city. The bloodied parchment details on the reverse page that his soul will be devoured if he ever betrays Pazuzu. He orders the cult to infiltrate the city watch so it can create a criminal underground for him to use. He reserves the other two wishes Pazuzu will grant him for a later date. Kerrick also hides the contract on his body where it'll stay, invisible.

Thana creates huge trees in the city center, she has to rely on the dryad's potion again. Other than that she uses her newly increased powers of healing to aid the sick and injured people.

Shiel is visited by Rondra who asks about his upcoming plans. Shiel intends to return the City Watch to Ariton's leadership. She also warns him about another Mantle King who has vowed to unite the dales from his seat of power in Scardale. He is probably an agent of the Zhentarim or maybe Thay or Sembia. Rondra also warns Shiel that most people do not like the dwarves and thus helping Baim retake the mines probably should not take priority.

Ilthond talks to Nimue about the plight of their people. "The Devourer" seems to be a name behind which the demon conceals his true identity. According to Nimue's description of the cult Ilthond suggests that his real identity might be Dagon, the elder being of the lightless depths. He suggests that Nimue should visit a legendary water wizard near Ashdale to ask for guidance.

Thana talks to Lyra about which forms nature should take. Lyra seems to be an advocate of uncontrolled growth and competition in nature. She would like to create a temple to the four seasons which are embodied by four archfeys.

Nimue tells Shiel about the wise man of Ashdale. Kerrick's guild has taken over a lot of the city watch and even funnels a part of the money back to the Mantle King to help build up the city so he can pluck it when it's ripe. He refuses the involvement of the Zhentarim's black network however and orders his guild to expand slowly and carefully.

After calling a big meeting with Rondra, "Ariton" and the group, Ilthond tells Shiel about Lashan Aumersair II., the Mantle King from Scardale. Apparently he's forcing his people to serve him by threatening to starve them. Since the surrounding dales do not trade with Scardale, it has left his people to be very dependent on him for their survival. Also he's rumored to be allied with a red dragon. Also Sashesh, the wife of the ex-archchancellor of Ashabenfurt hails from there. So the cult of Bane is also involved.

Shiel tries to purchase Ilthond's loyalty by promising him the Burned Tower, a mage tower which had once been burned down but miraculously reconstructed itself.

The group decide to retake the castle of Daggerfall which is still occupied by Dragon Cult servants. They intend to take the magical portal in Venomina's room while a part of the city watch attacks the castle to distract the lizardmen. Tara, as Ariton, sends some of the more loyal city watchmen to get most of them killed in the attack.

Shiel consoles the grieving Baim, the son of the slain Goldhammer with the help of his friends. He tells him that Goldhammer has been an honorable chieftain which has been corrupted by the unholy influence of Bane, same with his sister. Baim agrees and Shiel swears to him that he'll help him drive the demons out of the dwarvish mines once the opportunity arises. Baim offers Shiel aid against Venomina and tells him that four ballistas are still on top of the fortress tower which might be used against the dragon. He also hands four magical jewels to the group once they promise to unite the dales and drive out the oppressors.

So the group prepare an ambush on the top of the tower. The ballistas are hidden behind barricades of crates and barrels. Ilthond accompagnies Venomina to the roof top. Shiel, waiting, takes him aside and whispers to him that it's time for "Plan B" which Ilthond had mentioned as an alternative to a shotgun marriage without detailing what he meant. Shiel just hopes he won't aid Venomina.

Sadly Venomina seems to be prepared and catches a ballista bolt out of the air before transforming into a huge dragon! She wastes no time and dives at a ballista destroying it and killing the dwarves manning it.

Shiel yanks her back with psionic force and forces her to the ground. Thana drinks from a potion of divinity provided by the dryad who's also warned her not to overdo that.

Overcharged by the power of the feywild, Thana's force hits Venomina and breaks off a few of her scales leaving her vulnerable! Kerrick once again calls on Pazuzu's aid taking a mental note to forge a formal agreement with the demon later….

Pazuzu grants unerring accuracy to Kerrick's ballista bolt which tears another gaping hole into the wings of the dragon. The dwarves are doing their part as well and hitting the dragon twice more with their ballistas, damaging her wings further with the chains.

Venomina drives a few of the dwarves away with a tail whip and breathes a billowing cloud of poison into the main body of the group. The resistance fighters and dwarves continue their assault however and soon she is bleeding from many wounds.

A ground slam throws the attackers around and she quickly injures Kerrick, Thana and Shiel with a flurry of attacks, throwing him around like a rag doll.

She also kills several of the valiant dwarves with her poison breath and covers herself in a cloud of chlorine gas. Finally, a well aimed ballista and Kerrick's rapier bring an end to the dragon.

While Ilthond is supporting with special effects, Shiel announces to the hobgoblins, citizens and Dragon Cult supporters that today Daggerdale has been freed and that the dales shall be reunited to provide freedom for their inhabitants. He also threatens the remnants of the occupying forces to leave at once or be annihilated.

The remaining hobgoblins and lizardfolk turn to flee. For now, Daggerdale has been freed. It is doubtful the Zhentarim will be able to devote enough resources to retake the city in the immediate future.

On the next floor, the party group arrive at Goldhammer's dining hall. They're mostly posing as Venomina's henchmen, that's what Goldhammer is treating them as anyway.

Venomina suggests putting their quarrels behind them to join forces an rule Daggerfall together. Goldhammer agrees. He hopes eradicating the rebels in the woods who tie up enough of his resources to retake the mines of Tethyamar which have been taken by demonic forces. Goldhammer intends to use the emperor's help to free the mines with the help of Bane's clerics.

His son(?) who wears a full plate and mask objects that Goldhammer should take care of their own problems first instead of toadying up to the emperor. Goldhammer insists however that proving their worth the emperor will insure the legacy of their clan.

Even though Goldhammer suggests several measures to Venomina to divide Daggerfall, Thana has the feeling that none of the several groups really intends to settle this peacefully. They do intend to settle it right here, right now.

Four dwarves in the corners of the room are readying ballistas aiming at the dragon. At that moment, Ilthond enters the room and after a mocking greeting blows up two of the ballistas closest to the exit. A melee breaks out close to the table. Goldhammer creates a greenish globe of force around his throne and sends blasts of green flame from a portal to his right side. He also conjures a demon from a blood well, much like the ones below Shadowdale to engage Ilthond. Several of his dwarf henchmen retreat into a corner with a surviving ballista.

Goldhammer also uses his hammer to reanimate some of his fallen henchmen. More are streaming from the green portal, but Thana closes off their advance by casting a blade barrier on it!

The green rays which shot out at Venomina seem to prevent her from transforming into her true form.

One of the barmaids turns out to be more than she appeared as however since she stabs Thana from behind cutting her throat! Glimmer expends its energy to revive her however!

Even after calling on Pazuzu to help him destroy the shield around Goldhammer, Kerrick gets thrown into the blood fountain and is dragged under in a maelstrom of blood. He does get out by grabbing a rope which Shiel has thrown into the fountain. The demon falls under their blade attacks and Kerrick manages to enter Goldhammer's shield with the help of Pazuzu.

Ilthond meanwhile tries to remove the green chains which are binding Venomina which is mostly unsuccessful, about as unsuccessful as Shiel's attempts of breaking his shield.

Nimue manages to destroy the green portal with the help of several of the dwarves who are huddled in the corner, it seems to disrupt Goldhammer's shield as well. Thana and the dryad make short work of Goldhammer's daughter, the cleric of Bane.

Goldhammer's son is wailing loudly about the misfortune which is (still) befalling his family. Kerrick, the dryad, Thana and Shiel are working on Goldhammer until Kerrick brings his reign of evil to an end! Meanwhile, Ilthond has used his magic not to free Venomina but send her into a deep sleep.

Baim, his son, doesn't have much time to cry about his father's death. While the party are discussing the plans to throw out the Dragon Cult out of the castle of Daggerfall, Venomina conveniently "wakes". Apparently Ilthond's spell didn't fully control her after all.

She walks over to the "Mantle King" and asks him to announce their engagement to the townspeople of Daggerfall. She reveals that she has been able to track the party's progress via the Dragon Cult ring the group has found in the forest.

Venomina doesn't seem to want to leave anything up to chance and forces the entire group into accompagnying her…